Liberty Mutual Insurance Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively LMHC or the Company) today reported net (loss) income of ($234) million and $829 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2012, respectively, versus $285 million and $358 million in the same periods in 2011.

Net income of $829 million for the year reflects the continued improvement in our operating results despite elevated levels of catastrophe losses, said David H. Long, President and CEO of Liberty Mutual Insurance. Our net loss of $234 million in the quarter was principally driven by a $576 million after tax loss from Superstorm Sandy, and Id like to express my gratitude to our claims professionals for their extraordinary response to help our policyholders post the event.

Full year financial results also included a $125 million loss, after tax, from the refinancing of debt and a $64 million after tax loss associated with the realignment of our operating units.

Net written premium growth remained robust at 7.6% for the year. I continue to be optimistic about future growth opportunities and with the momentum we have to improve profitability going forward.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

A Catastrophes include all current and prior accident year catastrophe losses excluding losses related to the Companys external reinsurance assumed lines except for Hurricane Isaac, the 2011 Australia floods, Cyclone Yasi, Japan earthquake and tsunami, New Zealand earthquakes, Hurricane Irene, Thailand floods, the 2011 and 2012 tornadoes and other severe storms in the U.S. including Superstorm Sandy. Catastrophe losses, where applicable, include the impact of accelerated earned catastrophe premiums and earned reinstatement premiums. B Net incurred losses attributable to prior years is defined as incurred losses attributable to prior years (excluding prior year losses related to natural catastrophes) including both earned premium attributable to prior years and amortization of retroactive reinsurance gains. CRe-estimation of the current accident year loss reserves for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011.

Year-to-Date Highlights

Financial Condition as of December 31, 2012

Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

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Liberty Mutual Insurance Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

Liberty Mutual and MassMutual CEOs won pay boosts last year

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Massachusetts insurance giants Liberty Mutual and MassMutual both gave their top executives significantly bigger pay packages last year as the companies continued to grow, the companies reported this week.

Liberty Mutual chief executive David H. Long received $8.9 million in total compensation, including $1 million salary, $3.6 million bonus, and millions more in phantom stock awards and other compensation. Thats up 29 percent from 2011, when he served as chief executive for only part of the year.

The Boston insurance companys profits more than doubled last year to $829 million, despite recording $886 million in pre-tax losses due to Hurricane Sandy, the company reported in year-end earnings Friday. Liberty Mutual, best known for its auto and home insurance, received nearly 100,000 claims from the storm, pushing the company into the red for the fourth quarter.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. chief executive Roger Crandall earned $11.3 million last year, up 20 percent from 2011, as the company reported stronger profits. His total compensation included nearly $1 million salary and a $3.4 million bonus (more than double his 2011 incentive), plus phantom stock awards and other compensation. Private companies use phantom stock programs to mimic stock and options at publicly traded companies to reward executives who make the company more valuable.

Both companies reported the compensation on their websites this week to comply with new state rules requiring mutual insurers, which are owned by their policyholders rather than shareholders, to disclose how much they paid their top executives and directors either by mailing the information to policyholders or posting the data online. State lawmakers and regulators enacted the new rules last year after the Globe reported that former Liberty Mutual chief executive Edmund F. Ted Kelly had received roughly $200 million from the company over four years, making him one of the highest paid executives in the country.

The payments were particularly controversial because Liberty Mutual is mutually owned for the benefit of its policyholders, so critics said the money should have gone back to members or been invested back into the business. Liberty Mutual defended the pay at the time, saying the figures were misleading because Kelly cashed in phantom stock awards that he had accumulated over more than a decade.

Executives also credited Kelly with helping to build the company into Bostons only Fortune 100 firm, making the awards worth more.

The company also reported Friday that Kelly, the former top executive who stepped down in 2011, received $422,636 for his service as chairman of the board last year. Other company directors received pay ranging from about $134,000 to $279,000. Meanwhile, MassMutual said it paid all five of its top executives more last year, mostly because of higher incentive awards. Three executives received increases ranging from 33 percent to 45 percent.

But the company also pointed out it enjoyed a strong year. The companys revenue climbed 36 percent to $19.7 billion, while earnings rose 90 percent to $872 million. The company ended the year with a surplus (one measure of financial strength) of $12.7 billion, up 11 percent.

Company spokesman Mark Cybulski said the companys compensation is designed to help attract and retain talented executives and is determined by the board based on company performance, individual performance, industry practices, and other factors.

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Liberty Mutual and MassMutual CEOs won pay boosts last year

Libertarian Shrugs at the Real Effects of Sequester Cuts – Video

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Libertarian Shrugs at the Real Effects of Sequester Cuts
Dan from NJ is one of our regular Libertarian callers. In this particular clip, Dan voiced his problem with Sam Seder #39;s "hysteria" over the cuts coming from the sequester... This clip from the Majority Report, live MF at 12 noon EST and via daily podcast at Majority.FM Subscribe to us on YouTube youtube.com

By: SamSeder

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Wisconsin Libertarian Party Response to Gov Walker Budget – Video

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Wisconsin Libertarian Party Response to Gov Walker Budget
In what can best be described as a difference of vision for what governments should and should not be involved in, and for simplicity sake, our response will be limited to the Governors five priorities for the 2013-15 Biennial Budget. Priority One: Growing our Economy Priority Two: Developing Our Workforce Priority Three: Transforming Education Priority Four: Reforming Government Priority Five: Investing In Our Infrastructure

By: LibertyValleyWI

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Wisconsin Libertarian Party Response to Gov Walker Budget - Video

QSA, Libertarian Forum Protest Blood Donation Policy

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UPDATED: March 1, 2013, at 8:26 a.m.

Members of Harvard College Queer Students and Allies and the Harvard Libertarian Forum gathered Thursday evening to seal and send off a box filled with 1,624 letters for the Food and Drug Administration.

The letters, signed by approximately a quarter of Harvard undergraduates, protested a government policy that universally bans men who have had sex with other men from donating blood.

Over a six-week period last semester, the campaigners visited every dining hall to collect signatures and raise awareness among students.

The policy, a holdover from the era of the AIDS epidemic, effects a lifetime ban on blood donation for males who have had sex with another male since 1977.

The members of both organizations decided to start thecampaign when they noticed that despite frequent blood drives at Harvard, there was little dialogue on campus about the ban, which they called archaic, judgmental, and ineffective.

Students were extremely receptive, and [for] others that werent, we had a chance to engage with the issue, which is really valuable, too, said Benjamin L. DeVore 15, a former political co-chair of the QSA.

Though they acknowledged that theirs was an unusual partnership, both groups said that their interests aligned perfectly on the issue.

We come from the standpoint that the government shouldnt be intervening in medical affairs, said Corinne H. Curcie 15, president of the Libertarian Forum.

Every unit of donated blood gets tested for HIV, said Curcie, who also referred to a study by the American Medical Association that called the policy ethically inconsistent with the FDAs other regulations.

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QSA, Libertarian Forum Protest Blood Donation Policy

Mental health care is improving, Flemming says

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Health Minister Ted Flemming said a second year of government investment in improvements to mental health care in New Brunswick will be announced in the upcoming budget (CBC)

Health Minister Ted Flemming says his government is committed to continued improvements to mental health care services in the province.

This week a Moncton mother and Provincial Court Judge Michael McKee expressed concerns that improvements were not happening quickly enough and people are unable to receive the care they need quickly.

Flemming acknowledged the challenge of completely changing the way provincial departments respond is a challenging task, especially when the wheels of government turn slowly.

The provincial government does have a plan to transform mental health care in New Brunswick that was announced in May 2011.

"It's a major revision and a major refocusing in the treatment and awareness of health care and I hope that we're going to be leaders in the country in this," Flemming said.

He said after the first year of investment in the action plan there have been improvements, including funding for 100 young people to receive early psychosis intervention.

Further investments will be announced by the provincial government in the March budget, according to the health minister

Flemming said he is asking New Brunswickers to cut him some slack, explaining that he's only been the health minister for four months.

"The [action] plan is 2011-2018, then we had a switch of ministers ... and I find that a $3 billion portfolio, 20-some thousand employees, health renewal and everything else, that I just humanly can't get to everything on day one."

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Mental health care is improving, Flemming says

Hackovate Health Announces Winners of H&R Block Health Care Innovation Competition

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global health care focused innovation competition Hackovate Health came to a close when it announced four winning business ideas at the Finale event at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Organized by H&R Block and Think Big Partners, the Hackovate Health Finale brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals and industry leaders for a half-day pitch fest and awards ceremony.

Ten finalists, four judges and many community leaders, supporters and attendees joined to see innovation and entrepreneurism in action. At the event, a panel of four Finale judges determined the grand prize winner ($15,000), the runner-up ($5,000) and the second runner-up ($2,500). Finale judges included Kush Saxena (H&R Block), David Edwards (Cerner), Phyllis Faulkner-Johnson (Google Fiber) and Anna Haghgooie (Sandbox). In addition, attendees had the chance to watch 10 pitches from finalists and vote for their favorite via mobile platform for the Google Fiber People's Choice Award.

Tami Hutchinson and her team at eLuminate Health (Kansas City, MO) was announced the winner of the $15,000 grand prize. eLuminate Health is an online platform where surgeons and patients can easily find one another and compare procedures based on price and quality ratings. The eLuminate Health platform predicts to save up to 17% on procedures and 5% per year on healthcare costs. The company solves problems for consumers, payers, administrators and providers while improving healthcare quality and decreasing costs.

In addition to the cash prize, eLuminate Health has been recognized as one of the top startups in the healthcare tech industry.

"We truly appreciated this entire process," said Tami Hutchison of eLuminate Health. "Hackovate has helped us think in new ways and we will use this opportunity to get our product into the market and bring value to consumers in the U.S."

Karan Srivastava and his team of SHHADE (Miami, FL) was declared the winner of the Google Fiber People's Choice Award after receiving a majority of the public vote. SHHADE stands for Supply Home Health Care Alternatives and Dedicated Education. The SHHADE platform allows for remote patient monitoring, health coaching, care coordination and mobile primary care services. As the winner of the Google Fiber People's Choice Award, SHHADE will gain bragging rights and media exposure.

Liam Ryan of GetHealth (Dublin, Ireland) was announced as the Hackovate first runner-up, receiving a $5,000 cash prize from H&R Block. The GetHealth mobile app is "Foursquare for health" as it improves consumer health by "checking in" to different healthy activities. The app incorporates "motifications", notifications to help consumers improve their health. GetHealth has already been named an effective WaaS (wellness as a service).

"As a company with a base in New York and Ireland, we are always looking for opportunities to showcase in the United States on a global scale. Hackovate allowed us to not only do that, but to think big too," said Liam Ryan of GetHealth.

In addition, Scott Speranza of InAssist Health Management Solution (Torrance, CA) was announced as the second runner-up and received a $2,500 prize courtesy of H&R Block. InAssist specializes in medical protection services and solves for the problem of hospital overcharges. With an integrated portal, consumers can log in to the InAssist system to pay medical bills and better understand what they are getting charged for. InAssist incorporates TotalCare, which allows for a proprietary method for carriers and doctors.

In addition to celebrating the announcement of the Hackovate winners, attendees were invited to listen to keynote speakers Ned Holland of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Hackovate Health Announces Winners of H&R Block Health Care Innovation Competition

Health care overhaul rolls on despite budget havoc

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WASHINGTON (AP) Airline schedules, food inspections, IRS taxpayer assistance and deployments of Navy ships could all be hampered by the government's automatic spending cuts.

But President Barack Obama's health care law a program Republicans have spent the last three years trying to kill will roll out on time, the administration says.

Only a small fraction of the $1.6 trillion the Affordable Care Act spends to cover the uninsured over the next decade is subject to the so-called sequester. The cuts were to go into effect Friday, after Obama and congressional Republicans failed to agree on a mix of spending cuts and tax increases to staunch government red ink.

"Consumers in every state will have access (to coverage) when open enrollment begins on Oct. 1, 2013," Health and Human Services spokeswoman Erin Shields Britt told The Associated Press, when asked whether the budget cuts will delay the implementation of Obama's signature domestic program.

Dubbed "Obamacare" by its foes, the Affordable Care Act ACA for short has demonstrated staying power. It survived a Supreme Court challenge, last year's presidential election and more than 30 votes in the GOP-led House to eliminate, defund or otherwise scale it back.

Now it seems the program will lurch through a budget crisis that could disrupt other government functions and emerge largely unscathed.

Health and Human Services, the government department putting the law into place, says it doesn't have final estimates of the effect the budget cuts will have on its employees. But the department says it is working to prepare for the reductions in a way that minimizes the impact on its mission. HHS already oversees Medicare and Medicaid, which provide coverage to about 100 million people. The new law will add another 30 million people to the coverage rolls.

"It's galling that Obamacare is not being touched," said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, a veteran of the 1990s budget struggles that forced a partial government shutdown. Delaying the rollout of the health care law for two years could have saved enough money to take the place of the sequester, he said.

Some independent experts see irony in the situation. Others say the administration must be bluffing, and surely the cuts will slow the health law in some way.

"It's so strange that the one thing Republicans were so ticked off at was the ACA, and now, when it comes time for reductions in spending, for all practical purposes the ACA gets a pass," said Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, and formerly a long-serving GOP budget aide in Congress.

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Health care overhaul rolls on despite budget havoc

18 – Gene Therapy and Cancer Prevention – Interview with Dr. Veena Rao – Video

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18 - Gene Therapy and Cancer Prevention - Interview with Dr. Veena Rao
For additional information visit http://www.cancerquest.org In this video, Dr. Veena Rao discusses how gene therapy can lead to better cancer prevention. To learn more about cancer and watch additional interviews, please visit the CancerQuest website at http://www.cancerquest.org

By: CancerQuest

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18 - Gene Therapy and Cancer Prevention - Interview with Dr. Veena Rao - Video

17 – Gene Therapy – Interview with Dr. Veena Rao – Video

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17 - Gene Therapy - Interview with Dr. Veena Rao
For additional information visit http://www.cancerquest.org In this video, Dr. Veena Rao explains what gene therapy is, the different types of gene therapy, and how it is relevant with her research with the BRACO1 gene. To learn more about cancer and watch additional interviews, please visit the CancerQuest website at http://www.cancerquest.org

By: CancerQuest

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17 - Gene Therapy - Interview with Dr. Veena Rao - Video

Futurist Daniel Burrus Shares His Inaugural Certainties™ List with WJSU-TV – Video

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Futurist Daniel Burrus Shares His Inaugural Certainties trade; List with WJSU-TV
In an interview with WJSU-TV in Birmingham, Burrus explains how technology will transform the career landscape so individuals are not caught in disappearing careers but, rather, prepared for the predictable changes in their current careers, as well as being positioned for emerging careers with real, long-term demand.

By: TheDevryUniversity

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Futurist Daniel Burrus Shares His Inaugural Certainties™ List with WJSU-TV - Video

Futurist Speaker Scott Steinberg: Science Friction – How to Avoid Technology Overload – Video

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Futurist Speaker Scott Steinberg: Science Friction - How to Avoid Technology Overload
Futurist speaker for business and corporate events Scott Steinberg (www.AKeynoteSpeaker.com), among today #39;s best-known strategic innovation consultants, explains the concept of #39;science friction #39; and how to avoid technology overload when designing for connected audiences. Today #39;s apps, gadgets, smartphones, tablet PCs and mobile devices pack more features and online Internet capability than ever before, but from the user #39;s perspective, they #39;re not necessarily better. Here #39;s how to design products, services and new corporate ventures to succeed.

By: TechSavvyGlobal

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Futurist Speaker Scott Steinberg: Science Friction - How to Avoid Technology Overload - Video

Commerce ‘undermines freedom of SA media’

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THE freedom of the media in South Africa was undermined by various commercial tendencies that drove it and not the government, ANC national executive committee (NEC) member Lindiwe Zulu said on Thursday.

Ms Zulu was addressing the print and digital media transformation task team hearings in Johannesburg on behalf of the ruling party.

She bemoaned what she called the sluggish transformation in the media, particularly the print subsector. The ANC has in recent months been vocal about what it perceives to be the medias abuse of power and has controversially called for a media tribunal.

Ms Zulu said sloppy and sensationalist journalism led to headlines such as "Nkandlagate" and "controversial minister" and that these were spoken and written without critical thought on the matters.

She said the "anticompetitive" nature of South Africas media coupled with lack of ownership transformation led to less diverse voices.

"There are increasing incidents where the supposedly sacred separation between management and the newsroom is breached; where commercial considerations influence editorials," she said.

"Media is a major arena in the battle of ideas (and) the scope and space of the media must be open to all in society.

"Media should contribute (to) transformation in our country. We are challenging the notion that media is ideologically neutral and nonpartisan," she said.

The task team was established by Print and Digital Media SA in August last year after calls from civil society and Parliament for the transformation of the South African media following a parliamentary indaba in June.

Parliaments portfolio committee on communication criticised the print media sector and called for a transformation charter.

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Commerce ‘undermines freedom of SA media’